JP4477171B2 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of a type in which various probes can be exchanged with a detachable connector.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus irradiates ultrasonic waves into a subject (patient body) and receives reflected waves to obtain various image information such as a B-mode image and an M-mode image, and this is used as a display device. It is displayed and used for diagnosis of the disease state of the affected area. An ultrasonic transducer for emitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is composed of an array in which a large number of ultrasonic transducer elements are arranged, and this is accommodated in a probe. A single ultrasonic beam is formed by synthesizing the emitted and received ultrasonic waves from each of a large number of transducer elements, and the direction of the synthesized ultrasonic beam is controlled electronically by controlling the driving phase and the receiving phase.・ Electronically scan with changing focus.
[0003]
Various types of probes are prepared according to the diagnostic site. That is, a convex probe dedicated to the abdomen, a transesophageal probe specially used for monitoring the heart by being inserted into the esophagus, a general-purpose linear probe, a sector probe, and the like are known. In the linear probe and the sector probe, the transducer elements are linearly arranged. In the former, the ultrasonic beam is scanned in parallel, and in the latter, the ultrasonic beam is scanned in a fan shape. In the convex probe, the transducer elements are curved and arranged in a convex shape to scan the ultrasonic beam in a fan shape. The transesophageal probe is a kind of sector probe, in which transducer elements are linearly arranged to scan an ultrasonic beam in a fan shape.
[0004]
These various probes are configured so as to be detachably connected to the main body by a connector provided at the end of the cable, whereby the probes can be arbitrarily replaced according to the application. Each pin of this connector corresponds to each signal line. Necessary signal lines include signal lines for ultrasonic signals connected to transducer elements in the probe, control signals, probe identification signals, grounds, etc. This is a signal line for general control signals.
[0005]
By the way, in linear probes and convex probes, it is better to increase the number of ultrasonic transducer elements in order to obtain an ultrasonic image with few grating lobes, so many of the pins of the connector are connected to signal lines connected to these elements. Will be assigned. On the other hand, the number of elements in the sector probe is generally smaller than that in the linear probe or the convex probe. Therefore, in the sector probe, it is not necessary to divide many of the connector pins into signal lines connected to the elements.
[0006]
In addition, since the transesophageal probe has a special purpose of monitoring the heart by being inserted into the esophagus as described above, the probe is fixed at a certain position in the esophagus to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves. Therefore, the temperature rise of the probe may damage the esophagus, and a temperature information signal line for monitoring the temperature rise of the probe is required. Furthermore, there is a demand for knowing the rotation angle of the scanning surface of the transesophageal probe, and there may be a signal line for the rotation angle information. Therefore, it is necessary to secure signal lines for these unique information.
[0007]
Therefore, if all of these are supported, the total number of signal lines is not only the number of general control signal lines required for all probes, but also the number of ultrasonic signals corresponding to the large number of elements in a linear probe or the like. It is necessary to combine the number of signal lines for use with the number of signal lines for unique information required by transesophageal probes or the like. Correspondingly, the number of pins of the connector becomes very large.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if a connector having a large number of pins is used corresponding to the signal lines required for all the probes as described above, there is a problem that a large connector must be used and an increase in cost is inevitable. If the number of elements of a linear probe or a convex probe is reduced because a large connector is not used, a problem occurs in image quality. If the number of elements is not reduced and the large-sized connector is not used in order not to deteriorate the image quality with a linear probe, etc., all of the connector pins are only the ultrasonic signal signal line and the general control signal line. Will be occupied by. Therefore, a linear probe or convex probe that does not require unique information such as temperature information may be used, but a transesophageal probe that requires unique information cannot be connected as it is. Although it is conceivable to change the connector depending on the probe, the cost reduction due to the mass production effect when the same connector is used cannot be expected.
[0009]
In view of the above, the present invention makes it possible to deal with all of the various probes while using the same small connector with a relatively small number of pins, thereby achieving convenience in use and cost reduction. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the tomographic apparatus according to the present invention comprises a main body including at least a transmission / reception circuit for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and an ultrasonic transducer element array. A probe connected via a detachable connector and a part of a signal line connected to the probe via the connector are connected to the probe within the main body according to a probe identification signal. It is characterized in that a switch provided in the main body is provided for switching between the line and a signal line for unique information of the information processing circuit .
[0011]
A switching device is provided in the main body, and a signal line connected to the probe via the connector is switched according to the probe identification signal. Therefore, this switchable signal line can be used for another signal by the probe. A probe with a small number of ultrasonic transducer elements requires only a small number of signal lines for ultrasonic signals to be connected to each element, resulting in an empty signal line. And can be connected to a circuit for processing the unique information by switching with a switch by a probe identification signal. In a probe with a large number of ultrasonic transducer elements, there are a large number of signal lines for ultrasonic signals that should be connected to each element. Therefore, all the above-mentioned empty signal lines are assigned to the signal lines for ultrasonic signals. The signal can be switched by a switch according to the probe identification signal and connected to the transmission / reception circuit. By switching with the switching device in this way, a specific signal line can be selectively used as an ultrasonic signal for a certain probe and unique information for another probe. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the number of pins of the connector, and a small connector having a relatively small number of pins can be used. There is only one connector (one type), and there is no need to change the connector depending on the probe. Switching by the switch is automatically performed by a probe identification signal. From these, it is very convenient in use.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the main body 10 and the probe 20 are detachably coupled by a connector 22. The main body 10 includes a switch 11, a transmission / reception circuit 12, an information processing circuit 13, a reception signal processing system 14, a controller 15, and the like, and further includes a display device 16 that displays an ultrasonic image and the like, a keyboard, and various An input device 17 provided with switches and the like is provided.
[0013]
The probe 20 incorporates an ultrasonic transducer comprising a large number of ultrasonic transducer element arrays, and is connected to the main body 10 by a connector 22 at the tip of a cable 21 extending therefrom. Each signal line in the cable 21 is connected to the transmission / reception circuit 12, the information processing circuit 13, the controller 15, and the like, and a part thereof is switched by the switch 11.
[0014]
The transmission / reception circuit 12 is connected to each of the ultrasonic transducer elements in the probe 20 via the switch 11, the connector 22, and the cable 21, and a pulse driving circuit for driving each element with an ultrasonic pulse, And an amplifier for amplifying an ultrasonic reception signal from the element. When an ultrasonic beam is emitted from the probe 20, each element is pulse-driven by the pulse driving circuit of the transmission / reception circuit 12, and the delay time and phase of the timing are controlled for each element. Determine the direction and focus of the synthesized wave beam of the ultrasonic wave. At the time of reception, the direction and focus of the combined received ultrasonic beam are determined by combining each received signal from each element with a predetermined delay time and a phase difference. By controlling the delay time and phase, electronic control of the synthesized ultrasonic beam during transmission and reception is performed. This enables electronic scanning, for example, where the transmitted and received ultrasound beams scan a predetermined cross section.
[0015]
The ultrasonic reception signal is sent to the reception signal processing system 14 for processing, and a B-mode image or the like is created, which is sent to the display device 16 and displayed on the display screen. The input device 17 is for inputting an imaging mode such as a B mode or an M mode, or inputting a patient name, a patient ID, or the like.
[0016]
Various probes 20 are prepared, and can be exchanged by attaching / detaching the connector 22. A signal line for a probe identification signal indicating the type of the probe 20 is also included in the cable 21. That is, the signal lines in the cable 21 include signal lines for probe identification signals and signal lines for general control signals such as ground and control signals, in addition to signal lines connected to each of the ultrasonic elements. Etc. will be included. Further, when the probe 20 is a transesophageal probe, a signal line for unique information such as temperature information and rotation angle information is also required. These signal lines for temperature information and the like are also used as signal lines connected to each of the ultrasonic elements, and are configured to be switched by the switch 11.
[0017]
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, it is assumed that n signal lines # 1 to #n are provided in the cable 21 and the connector 22 (the number of pins of the connector 22 is n). In a linear probe or convex probe, m (m <n) signal lines # 1 to #m are connected to m ultrasonic transducer elements. The signal lines for # m + 1 to #n are assigned as signal lines for general control signals such as probe identification signals, control signals, and ground. On the other hand, in transesophageal probes, the number of elements may be smaller than that of linear probes or the like, and k−1 (k <m), so that the signal lines #k to #m are vacant, so this vacancy. The signal lines #k to #m are assigned to signal lines for unique information such as temperature information and rotation angle information. Also in the case of this transesophageal probe, general control signals such as a probe identification signal, a control signal, and a ground are similarly assigned to the signal lines # m + 1 to #n.
[0018]
That is, the signal lines # 1 to # k-1 are for ultrasonic signals in any probe, and the signal lines # m + 1 to #n are for general control signals in any probe. However, for the signal lines #k to #m, the probe with a large number of elements is used for ultrasonic signals, but the probe with a small number of elements is used for unique information and is also used.
[0019]
Then, the shared signal lines #k to #m are switched by the switch 11. When the insertion side 24 of the connector 22 attached to the cable 21 from the probe 20 is inserted and fixed to the receiving side 23 of the connector 22 provided on the main body 10 side, the signal lines # m + 1 to #n are transmitted. The controller 15 switches the switch 11 according to the probe identification signal. Thereby, for example, when the probe 20 is a probe having a large number of ultrasonic transducer elements such as a linear probe or a convex probe, the signal lines #k to #m are switched to the transmission / reception circuit 12 side, In the case of an esophageal probe, the signal lines #k to #m are switched to the information processing circuit 13 side, and unique information such as temperature information and rotation angle information is sent to the information processing circuit 13.
[0020]
In this example, the transesophageal probe has been described as an example. However, in the case of a probe that has a small number of elements and requires unique information, similarly, a signal line that is vacant for ultrasonic signals is used as its unique information. Can be assigned for. For example, in a biplane probe, two rows of ultrasonic transducer element arrays arranged in different directions by a switch provided in the probe are switched by a switch provided in the probe. Can be sent as.
[0021]
In addition, a configuration other than the configuration described above can be adopted as a specific configuration without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, a small connector having a relatively small number of pins can be used, and all probes can be detachably connected to the connector. Since the switch is automatically switched by the identification signal, any probe with a large number of ultrasonic transducer elements or a probe with a small number of ultrasonic transducer elements but requiring unique information can be simply connected to the connector. Is very convenient.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing signal lines and their connection relations.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 11 Switch 12 Transmission / reception circuit 13 Information processing circuit 14 Reception signal processing system 15 Controller 16 Display apparatus 17 Input apparatus 20 Probe 21 Cable 22 Connector 23 Connector receiving side 24 Connector insertion side

Claims (1)

A main body including at least a transmission / reception circuit for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a probe including an ultrasonic transducer element array and connected to the main body via a detachable connector, and via the connector A part of the signal line connected to the probe between the part of the signal line of the transmission / reception circuit and the signal line for the unique information of the information processing circuit in accordance with the probe identification signal. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a switch provided in the main body for switching.

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